Authorities Investigating Death of Man in Custody Following Drugged Driving Arrest

The Massachusetts State Police and Essex County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the death of a New Hampshire man after he was arrested for drugged driving.

Troopers responded to the scene after state police received calls from motorists reporting that a car had gone off the road.

The man, Roger M. Gasangwa, 34, of Dover, N.H., was arrested after he crashed his 1998 Honda Civic on Route 495 northbound at approximately 9:20 Saturday night, according to Massachusetts State Police.

After an investigation at the scene, troopers determined that Gasangwa, the sole occupant of the car, was operating under the influence of narcotics. EMS personnel responded to the scene and checked his condition. He refused further medical treatment, according to authorities.

An Amesbury Police K-9 unit searched the area around the crash site, according to state police, and found drug paraphernalia with a substance believed to be drug residue on them.

Troopers brought the man to the Newbury Barracks, where he was booked on charges of operating under the influence of drugs as well as other narcotics and motor vehicle offenses. As part of the booking process, his immediate person was searched for contraband, and authorities did not find anything.

Gasangwa was asked, and he answered, standard booking questions, according to state police. While his arrest was processed, he was alert and coherent and understood what was being asked of him. When questioned whether he had injuries or ailments he replied that he did not; nor did he have any visible injuries, according to authorities.

The New Hampshire man was placed into a cell at the barracks at approximately 12:30 a.m. He was visually checked in person by a trooper shortly after 1 a.m. and again shortly after 1:30 a.m.; both times he was breathing normally, according to state police. He was visually checked in person a third time shortly after 2 a.m., at which time the trooper found him not breathing, according to state police.

Troopers called an ambulance. EMS personnel undertook various life-saving procedures in the cell and then transported him to Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport. From there he was taken by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased on Sunday morning.

A subsequent investigation of the cell led to the discovery of a brown powder substance and a rolled up piece of small paper, which were taken as evidence and will be tested at the State Police crime lab. How that substance was brought into the cell is part of the ongoing investigation. The paraphernalia found at the crash site will also be submitted to the lab for testing.

Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office was notified of the unresponsive prisoner.

The DA’s office is responsible for overseeing all death investigations in the county. State troopers from the detective unit attached to that office are conducting the investigation with the assistance of Troop A of the State Police and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. A post-mortem examination and toxicology tests, will be conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Photo Credit: Mass.Gov, Station A-2, State Police Newbury Barracks